A
major responsibility of the division in this area
is to implement program monitoring and intervention
requirements in the areas of special education, No
Child Left Behind (federal Title programs), career
and technology education, and bilingual education/English
as a second language. This occurs within the context
of the new performance-based monitoring (PBM) strategies
being implemented by the agency as a result of legislative
action in the 78th Regular Legislative Session. Some
underlying strategies of the new PBM system include
a shift away from process to results (i.e. program
effectiveness and student performance), a strong emphasis
on data integrity, a focus on a coordinated approach
to agency monitoring , and a more creative application
of sanctions and interventions.
The definition of monitoring is: using a data-driven,
performance-based model to observe, evaluate, and
report on the public education system at the individual
student group, campus, local education agency, regional,
and statewide levels across diverse areas including
program effectiveness; compliance with federal and
state law and regulations; financial management; and
data integrity for the purpose of assessing that student
needs are being met; promoting diagnostic and evaluative
systems in LEAs that are integrated with the agency's
desk audit and intervention process; and relying on
a research-based framework of interventions that ensure
compliance and enhance student success.
The division uses
performance indicator information from the Division
of Performance Based Monitoring, as well as other
data available to the agency, to identify for intervention
those districts and charter schools with potential
concerns related to student performance, program
effectiveness, program compliance, and data integrity.
The
division monitors programs using a variety of strategies,
including district/charter self-evaluation, agency
desk review, and on-site monitoring to identify
areas in need of improvement or correction for a
given program. Based on the result of monitoring
activities, intervention and sanction measures are
implemented to address findings related to performance
concerns and noncompliance with federal and state
requirements. The extent and duration of performance
concerns are considered in the determination of
interventions and sanctions. |